Face support for binoculars



April 13, 1943. A. H. HOFFEDITZ FACE SUPPORT FOR BINOCULARS Filed July 1, 1941' 2 Sheets-Sheet l TORNIYJ April 3-- A. H. HOFFEDITZ 2,316,164

FACE SUPPORT FORBINOCULARS Filed Jul 1, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/G. Z.

//v msN 70 2 Patented Apr. 13, 1943 OFFICE FACE SUPPORT FOR BINOGULARS Aaron H. Hoffeditz, :G'reencastle, Pa. Application July 1, 1941, Serial No. 400,644

(Cl. 8834)l (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 13 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufeatured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a face support for binoculars and more particularly to a support of this type having a face piece which conforms exactly to the lineaments of the users face around the forehead, eyes and nose.

In all of the existing face supports for binoculars with which I am familiar, pads or cushions have been provided in an effort to make the support more comfortable on the face of the user. Despite the use of these cushions, however, the pressure areas which are created where the cushions bear against the face are likely to stop the circulation of the blood in these spots and so result in considerable discomfort to the user when the binoculars are maintained on the face for long periods of time. It is, therefore, the object of my inventionto provide a binocular support having aface piece which bears against a large area of the face around the forehead, eyes and, nose, and which is molded to accurately conform to the contours of these parts of the face. Consequently, no localized pressure areas are created, the face piece bearing with equal intensityon all parts of the face covered by it. As a result it is possible to wear my support for as long a time as is necessary or desirable without any discomfort tothe user. My support is particularly adapted for use by airplane or balloon observers who must maintain the binoculars up to the eyes for considerable lengths of time and who have also to contend with watering of the eyes as a result of the high winds encountered. With my device all wind is prevented from reaching the eyes of the wearer and hence, there is no possibility of the eyes watering from this cause. It is to be understood, however, that this is not the only possible use of my invention but that it will also find a large field of use by artillery observ- A further objectof my invention is to provide a means for holding the binocular support securely to the head of the wearer so as to make it possible to support even a heavy pair of binoculars from the head without using any great degree of tension in the head strap or any supplementary air from the hands. This is accomplished by attaching the head strap to the forward end of the device instead of to the sidesof the face piece as has been the customhere'tofore, and also by attaching itat apeint lying above the center of gravity of the device as a Whole. This results in the support and the binoculars being hung from the head rather than being held thereto by an excessive pressure acting in a direction normalto the face of the wearer.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features .of construction and arrangement as will be more fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: j V

Figure 1 is a perspective View ofmy device showing a conventional pair of binoculars supported therein. V

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective View or my device with the binoculars removed to show in detail the shape and arrangement of the various parts constituting the same.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, my binocular su'pport'is comprised of a face piece I, having a face conforming surface 2 which is made to accurately conform to the features of the individual who is to use the same, around the forehead, eyes and nose. Any one of several different methods may be used to accomplish this, one of these methods being to make a plaster cast of this area of the individuals face and then casting the piece l out of aluminum, or any other suitable material. An alternative method wouid be to make several standard face pieces which conform roughly to the outlines of several standard types of faces, and then coating the surface 2 of the piece with a thermal hardening or air hardening plastic of suitable characteristics. This plasticsurface maythen be pressed against the individuals face to take the shape thereof and then removed and laid aside to set. A thirdpossible method would be to make a cast or the race and then mold a rubber lining for one of the standar'dface pieces mentioned in the alternative method set out above in the exact shape of this plaster cast, which lining may tlin be bonded to the standard face piece;

The race piece I is provided with a bail of open-' ings 3 to accommodate the eyepieces of the binoculars. The piece is notched, as at 4 to accommodate the bridge of the nose and a flange 5 is formed on the surface 2 so as to provide a larger bearing area of the piece against the face. A binocular mounting plate 6 is provided when certain standard face pieces, as mentioned above, are to be used. If a separate face piece is to be cast for each individual, then it may be found desirable to eliminate the plate 6 and mount the binocular supporting structure directly on the face piece. However this may be, the plate 6 is provided with a pair of elongated holes 7 to receive the eyepieces of the binoculars. are elongated in order that the interpupillary distances between the eyepieces may be adjusted to suit the holes 3 in piece I being so spaced apartas to conform to the distance between the eyesof the individual who is to use the same. Ifstandard pieces I are to be used as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the holes 3would not, of course be bored out until the piece, is fitted to the face .of the individual when they would be spaced in accordance with his particular eye measurements. This plate 6 is standard for all face supports and is fastened to the individual face pieces l by means of the screws 8 extending through the elongated slots 9 and threading into the tapped holes [0 in piece I. up ordown on piece l by means of the elongated holes 9, this being necessary in order to tak care 'of any adjustments which are made in the distance between the eyepieces. If desired, a rubber gasket cut to the shape of plate 6 and having round holes cut therein to conform to the distance between the eyes of the'user may be inserted between plates 6 and piece I to remove all possibility of any wind reaching the eyes around the 'eyepieces. The holes cut in the rubber gasketshould be of such size as to fit snugly around the eyepieces of r the binoculars, thus tightly sealing the eye openings and preventing 'theentry of any outside wind;

' Secured in the plate 6 are three'rods H, upon which is slidably mounted a triangularly shaped binocular supporting block l2, This block i provided'with three holes l3, "which are spaced in accordance with the spacing of rods H. The block I2 is split in half as shown at M, and is bored lengthwise with'a hole it of a diameter slightly'smaller than that of the hinge shaft of the binoculars to be supported'in, the device. Four screws [6 are located in holes I! bored through the top half of the block, these screws being received in tapped holes provided in the lower half of the block.

By means of this arrangement the halves of the block I2 may be placed on oppostie sides of the hinge shaft of the binoculars and may then be securely clamped thereto by means of the screws It. The block slides on the rods H and is prevented from slipping off the ends of the rods by a triangularly shaped end platelB having holes 18' fitting over the tapped ends of the rods II. The plate is held in place by the nuts I9 screwing on the ends of rods 1 l. The eyepiece assembly of the binoculars may be adjusted in or out relative to the piece I and the plate 6 in order that the eyecups thereof may be brought into proper position with respect to the eye sockets of the wearer. This is accomplished by the use of various sized spacing collars secured to the forward end of the hinge shaft of the binoculars. After a collar 20 of suitable length has The plate 6 may be adjusted The holes l individual wearing the same, the.

when the plate is in position. Four tapped holes 24 are provided in the plate in the locations shown, these holes receiving the threaded ends of four long screws 25 extending through holes in the plate 6. Sleeves 26 are slid on the screws 25 and thus serve to space the plate 22 a distance from plate 6 equal to the length of these sleeves- The eyepiece adjusting bar 2'! of the binoculars (Fig. '1) lies in the space thus provided between these two plates. The sleeves 26 are of such length (consideration being given to the length of collar 28) that the bar 21 will be held snugly in position between the plates 6 and 22 with little or no end play. Thus itwill be seen that the extent to which theeyepieces of the binoculars protrude within the holes 3 in the face piece I depends upon the width of the collar 20 and, that once this dimension is fixed and the proper length of sleeves 26 is chosen, the eyepiece assembly of the binoculars will .be held in fixed position with respect. to the face piece. During movement of thefocusing screw 28 of the binoculars, the body portion of the binoculars and the block l2 will be slidalong the rods .ll while the eyepieces remain stationary. It will thus be seen'that the binoculars are securely mounted on the face piece and that no motion of the binoculars relative thereto will occur except during focusing operations when the body portion of the instrument will-slide along the supporting rods. V V a The binocular support is held in place'against the face of the user by means of a headband 29 which is attached, by means of a snapfastener 30, to an upper extension 3| of the end plate '18. The band passes around the back" of the head and may be made from any suitable elastic material, provision being made, of course, for adjustment in the length of the band. It will be noted that the band is attached to the forward end of the binocular support and, also, that the point of attachment is located above the center of gravity of the device, binoculars included. This makes it possible to support the structure without undue tensionin the headband 29 and without requiring additional support by the hands of the user. This; of course, is due to the fact that theyattachinent of the headband at this point tends to hang the device from the head rather than attempting to support it by pulling it directly against the face. The attachment of the band at this point has the further advantage that in removing thebinoculars from the head, it is only necessary to pull thern slightly forward away from the face and then, by, swinging the facepiece down away from the eyes, the strap 29 will be loosened and may be readily removed The eyepiece As mentioned earlier in as ,33 filld34'Whll6bhG- hinge straps are numbered 35;and'36.

It will now be evident that I have provided a face support for binoculars which is simple in construction but. perfectly suited for .the'purpose-intended. The parts going into. the structure. are preferably made of aluminum or of alloysthereof so as to render the device as light as possible on the head of the wearer, It is also to be noted that specially designed binoculars to fit the face support are not necessary, but that any binocular of. conventional design may be supported therein.

Having; thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent'is:

1. In a device of the character. described comprising a rigid face piece shaped to accurately conform to the lineaments of a particular individuals face around the forehead, eyes, and nose and having openings therein for receiving the eyepieces of a pair of conventional binoculars, a plurality of parallel supporting rods secured to said face piece, a supporting member securely fastened to the body portion of the binoculars and slidably mounted on said rods, and means for holding the eyepiece assembly of the binoculars in fixed relationship to said face piece.

2. In a device of the character described comprising a rigid face piece shaped to accurately conform to the lineaments of a particular individuals face around the forehead, eyes and nose and having openings therein for receiving the eyepieces Of a pair of conventional binoculars, a plurality of parallel supporting rods secured to said face piece, a supporting member securely fastened to the .body portion of the binoculars and adapted for sliding movement along said rods, and means engaging the eyepiece focusing bar of the binoculars for rigidly securing the binocular eyepiece assembly to said face piece.

3. In a device of the character described comprising a face piece having openings therein for receiving the eyepieces of a pair of binoculars, a plurality of parallel supporting rods secured to said face piece, a supporting member securely fastened to the body portion of the binoculars and adapted for sliding movement along said rods, and an eyepiece assembly retaining plate fixed in spaced relationship to said mounting plate in order that the eyepiece focusting bar of the binoculars may be embraced between the two plates to thereby hold the binocular eyepiece assembly in fixed relationship to said face piece.

4. In a device of the character described comprising a face piece having openings therein for receiving the eyepieces of a pair of binoculars, a plurality of parallel supporting rods secured to said face piece, a supporting member securely fastened to the body portion of the binoculars and adapted for sliding movement along said rods, a spacing collar fitting over the end of the binocular hinge shaft adjacent to the binocular focusing screw for determining the position of the eye pieces with respect to said face piece,

and an eyepiece assembly retaining plate fixed I in spaced relationship to said mounting plate in order that the eyepiece focusing bar of the binoculars may be embraced between the two plates to thereby hold the binocular eyepiece assembly in fixed relationship to said face piece.

5. In a device of the character described comprising a face piece shaped to accurately conform to the lineaments of a particular individuals face around the forehead, eyes and nose and having cpeningstherein. for. receiving the. eye.- pieces. of' at pair of. binoculars; abinoculan supporting structure mounted. on said face piece, said: structure including a plate having openings therein for receiving the binocular eyepieces, a plurality of parallel rods secured to said". plate, and a supporting member securely fastened to the body portion. of the binoculars. andslidably mounted on said rods; and means for holding the eyepiece assembly of the binoculars in fixed relationship to said facepiece.

6. In a device of the character describedcomprising a face piece shaped to accurately conform to the lineaments of a particular individ, uals face around the forehead, eyes and nose and having circular openings therein for receiving the eyepieces of a pair of binoculars;.a binocular supporting structure slidably mounted. for vertical adjustment on said face piece, said structure including a. plate having elongated holes therein for receiving the binocular: eyepieces, a plurality of parallel rods secured to said plate, and a supporting member securely fastened to the body portion of the binoculars and slidably mounted on said rods; and means for holding the eyepiece assembly of the binoculars in fixed relationship to said face piece.

7. In a device of the character described com.- prising a face piece shaped to accurately conform to the lineaments of a particular individuals face around the forehead, eyes and nose and having circular openings therein for receiving the eyepieces of a pair of binoculars; a binocular supporting structure slidably mounted for vertical adjustment on said face piece, said structure including a plate having elongated holes therein for receiving the binocular eyepieces, a plurality of parallel rods secured to said plate, and a supporting member securely fastened to the body portion of the binoculars and slidably mounted on said rods; and means engaging the eyepiece focusing bar rigidly securing the binocular eyepiece assembly to said face piece.

8. In a device of the character described comprising a face piece shaped to accurately conform to the lineaments of a particular individuals face around the forehead, eyes and nose and having circular openings there for receiving the eyepieces of a pair of binoculars; a binocular supporting structure slidably mounted for vertical adjustment on said face piece, said structure including a plate having elongated holes therein for receiving the binocular eyepieces, a plurality of parallel rods secured to said plate, and a supporting member securely fastened to the body portion of the binoculars and slidably mounted on said rods; and an eyepiece assembly retaining plate fixed in spaced relationship to said mounting plate in order that the eyepiece focusing bar of the binoculars may be embraced between the two plates to thereby hold the binocular eyepiece assembly in fixed relationship to said face piece.

9. In a device of the character described comprising a face piece shaped to accurately conform to the lineaments of a particular users face around the forehead, eyes and nose and having circular openings therein for receiving the eyepieces of a pair of binoculars; a binocular supporting structure slidably mounted for vertical adjustment on said face piece, said structure including a mounting plate having elongated holes therein for receiving the binocular eyepieces, a plurality of parallel rods secured to said plate, and a supporting member securely fastened to the body portion of the binoculars and slidably mounted on said rods; a spacing collar fitting over the end of the binocular hinge shaft adjacent to the binocular focusing screw for determining the position of the eyepieces with respect to said face piece; and'an eyepiece assembly retaining plate fixed in spaced relationship to said mounting plate in order that'the focusing bar for the binocular eyepieces may be embraced between the two plates to thereby hold the binocular eyepiece assembly in fixed relationship to said face piece. 1 V

10. A face support for an optical instrument comprised of a rigid face piece shaped to exactly conform to the lineaments of a particular individuals face over a considerable area around the forehead, eyes and'nose. V i,

l1..A face support for an optical instrument comprising a rigid face piece having a faceconforming portion shaped to accurately contact a considerable area of a particular individuals face around the forehead, eyes and nose, and an instrument mounting portion for receiving an instrument supporting structure. 1

'12. A face support for an optical instrument comprised'of a rigid face piece shaped to exactly conform to the lineaments of a particular individuals face over a considerable area around the forehead, eyes and nose, said face piece having openings therein for receiving the eyepieces of the instrument.

13. In a device of the character described comprising a rigid face piece shaped to exactly conform to the lineaments of a particular individuals face over a considerable area around the forehead, eyes, and nose and having openings therein for receiving the eyepieces of a pair of conventional binoculars, and means for rigidly securing said binoculars to said face piece so as to prevent relative movement between the binoculars and said face piece.

AARON H. HOFFEDITZ. 

